Western Europe · UN member
Switzerland: Travel Guide & Requirements
Swiss Confederation · Confédération suisse · Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft
Switzerland is a country in Western Europe with its capital in Bern. It has a population of 9.1 million (#98 in the world) and covers 41,277 km². The official languages are French, Swiss German, Italian and Romansh. The currency is the Swiss franc (CHF, Fr.).
Where is Switzerland? Map of Switzerland
Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy.
- Region
- Western Europe
- Coordinates
- 47° N, 8° E
- Neighbours
- 5 — see list
- Coastline
- Landlocked
- Switzerland
- Neighbours
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of Switzerland showing Bern (capital) and the largest cities: Zürich, Basel, Lausanne, Sankt Gallen, Lugano, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Chur and Sitten.
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Switzerland
- Passport
The Schengen Borders Code says a third-country national's travel document must be valid for at least three months after the intended date of departure from the territory of the Member States (this may be waived in a jus…
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 93 need no visa, 105 need a visa from an embassy. Check yours or see Switzerland entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
No official requirement. The State Secretariat for Migration recommends that visitors also carry a return ticket valid for a maximum of 90 days or a ticket for continuing their journey to a country outside the Schengen area, and the UK Foreign …
- Proof of funds
The State Secretariat for Migration says third-country nationals who remain in Switzerland at their own expense must be able to demonstrate financial resources of at least CHF 100 per day of their stay (CHF 30 per day f…
- Travel insurance
The Visa Code says applicants for a uniform visa must prove they hold adequate and valid travel medical insurance (for a multiple-entry visa, covering the first intended visit); it must be valid throughout the territory…
- Arrival card
The UK Foreign Office tells British travellers that when they travel into the Schengen area for short stays they may need to register biometric details such as fingerprints and a photo in the EU Entry/Exit System; on th…
- Customs allowance
The Federal Office for Customs and Border Security says unrestricted amounts of cash may be carried into, through and out of Switzerland and you are not obliged to declare it.
- Travel advice
Safe to visit — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to Switzerland
- Safety: Yes — Switzerland is generally safe to visit: the US State Department rates Switzerland Level 1 (“Exercise Normal Precautions”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
- Best time to go: June to August — when daytime highs in Bern are around 21–23°C.
- Money: the Swiss franc (CHF) — 1 US dollar is about 0.8239 CHF.
- Plugs: type C and J, 230 V, 50 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 117, Ambulance 144, Fire 118.
- Language: French, Swiss German, Italian and Romansh are official; English is also spoken.
- Driving: on the right — speed limits are 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h outside built-up areas, 100 km/h on expressways and 120 km/h on motorways.
- Time zone: UTC+1 in Bern.
- Capital: Bern; the largest city is Zurich. About 9.1 million people live in Switzerland.
- Outdoors: 1 national park and 348 ski areas.
Key facts
Switzerland at a glance
Languages spoken: German (or Swiss German) (official) 62.1%, French (official) 22.8%, Italian (official) 8%, English 5.7%, Portuguese 3.5%, Albanian 3.3%, Serbo-Croatian 2.3%, Spanish 2.3%, Romansh (official) 0.5%, other 7.9% (2019 est.)
Geography & history
About Switzerland
The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a defensive alliance among three cantons. In succeeding years, other localities joined the original three. The Swiss Confederation secured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. A constitution of 1848, which was modified in 1874 to allow voters to introduce referenda on proposed laws, replaced the confederation with a centralized federal government. The major European powers have long honored Switzerland's sovereignty and neutrality, and the country was not involved in either World War. The political and economic integration of Europe over the past half-century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and international organizati…
Read the full history
The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a defensive alliance among three cantons. In succeeding years, other localities joined the original three. The Swiss Confederation secured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. A constitution of 1848, which was modified in 1874 to allow voters to introduce referenda on proposed laws, replaced the confederation with a centralized federal government. The major European powers have long honored Switzerland's sovereignty and neutrality, and the country was not involved in either World War. The political and economic integration of Europe over the past half-century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and international organizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties with its neighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UN member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN and international organizations but retains a strong commitment to neutrality.
Location
Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy
Climate
temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
Terrain
mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
Highest point
Dufourspitze on Monte Rosa 4,634 m
Natural resources
hydropower potential, timber, salt
Natural hazards
avalanches, landslides; flash floods
National symbols
Swiss cross (white cross on red field)
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in Switzerland
The default speed limits in Switzerland are 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h outside built-up areas, 100 km/h on expressways and 120 km/h on motorways. The legal alcohol limit for drivers is 0.5‰. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 2020 km/hResidential zonesLiving streets & residential areas
- 5050 km/hBuilt-up areasTowns and citiesWith a trailer: 80 km/h
- 8080 km/hOutside built-up areasCountry roads
- 100100 km/hExpresswaysDual carriageways & expresswaysWith a trailer: 80 km/h
- 120120 km/hMotorwaysMotorways / freewaysWith a trailer: 80 km/h
- International Driving PermitRecognised: 1968 Vienna, 1949 Geneva, 1926 ParisCarry the IDP together with your national licence
- Driving sideDrive on the rightOvertake on the left
- Alcohol limit0.5‰ blood alcohol (0.05% BAC)0.1‰ for young / novice drivers
- Seat beltsRequired by law
- Child seatsRequired by law
- Motorcycle helmetsRequired for riders
- Road deaths (2021)2.4 per 100,000 peopleSafer than most countries (median 12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0). Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is Switzerland safe to visit?
Yes — Switzerland is generally safe to visit: the US State Department rates Switzerland Level 1 (“Exercise Normal Precautions”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: Updated information on European Entry-Exit System (EES) (‘Entry requirements’ page).
Updated 11 Aug 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Switzerland
The best time to visit Switzerland is June to August, when daytime highs in Bern are around 21–23°C. September is also a good time to go. July is the warmest month (23°C by day), January the coldest (-4°C at night), and May the wettest with about 130 mm of rain.
- Jan2°C-4°C
- Feb4°C-4°C
- Mar8°C-1°C
- Apr13°C3°C
- May17°C7°C
- Jun21°C12°C
- Jul23°C13°C
- Aug22°C13°C
- Sep18°C9°C
- Oct14°C5°C
- Nov8°C0°C
- Dec3°C-3°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Switzerland
Plugs & sockets
230 V, 50 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Emergency numbers
Save the local numbers before you travel — 112 or 911 may not connect here. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Ski resorts
348 ski resorts in Switzerland
- 4,246 km of slopes
- 2,054 lifts
- up to 3,872 m
Biggest: Zermatt - Breuil-Cervinia · 4 Vallées – Verbier/La Tzoumaz/Nendaz/Veysonnaz/Thyon · Arosa Lenzerheide
National parks
1 national park in Switzerland
- 170 km² protected
- oldest from 1914
Largest: Swiss National Park
Currency · 26 October 2026
Swiss franc exchange rates today
Switzerland uses the Swiss franc (CHF, Fr.). One US dollar buys 0.8239 CHF; over the last 30 days the CHF has gained 0.6% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in CHF
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Switzerland ranks
How Switzerland compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Switzerland
121 airports and airfields — 2 large, 11 medium and 55 small, plus 53 heliports. 5 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
Neighbouring countries
Switzerland borders 5 countries along 1,770 km of land borders. It is landlocked.
Military
Swiss armed forces
Switzerland ranks #44 of 145 in the Global Firepower military strength ranking, with a defence budget of $7.6 billion (2025).
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Zurich (1.4 million), Bern (441,000)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments, tourism, banking, insurance, pharmaceuticals
Export partners
Germany 14%, China 12%, USA 11%, Italy 5%, Turkey 5% (2023)
Top exports
gold, packaged medicine, vaccines, nitrogen compounds, base metal watches (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Switzerland
Next public holiday
Christmas Day — Friday, 25 December 2026. Then New Year's Day (1 Jan).
Swiss passport
Ranked #17: 122 countries visa-free, 35 with visa on arrival, 9 with an eTA and 18 with an eVisa.
Swiss passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for Switzerland's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling Switzerland
Dial +41 before the local number. Internet domain .ch.
Climate footprint
32.1 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 3.60 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting Switzerland: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about Switzerland
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Frequently asked questions about Switzerland
What do I need to travel to Switzerland?
How long must my passport be valid for Switzerland?
Where is Switzerland?
What is Switzerland known for?
What is the capital of Switzerland?
What language is spoken in Switzerland?
What currency does Switzerland use?
What is the calling code of Switzerland?
Which countries border Switzerland?
How strong is the Swiss passport?
What is the speed limit in Switzerland?
Is Switzerland safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Switzerland?
What plug type does Switzerland use?
How many airports does Switzerland have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.